Earlier, Shane, Sharn and third place Brian Lake battled it out in a nailbiting final immunity challenge, all playing for a guaranteed spot in the final two and a chance to plead their case to the jury.

They each had to stand on poles in the sea, balancing precariously and not taking their feet or hands off – not even for a second. One wrong move and they’d be out.

Shane, 61, was the first out of the challenge, asking to get down after an hour on her pole.

From there, Brian, 36, was visibly struggling. With sweat dripped down his face, Brian reached to take his hat off and then realised his mistake – he had taken his hand off the pole and lost the challenge.

Sharn, 41, won immunity and got to decide who she’d take to the final two with her.

This is where the jury, and many viewers, think she cemented her position as runner up.

She chose to face off in the final two with close ally Shane.

In casting her vote for Shane, contestant Fenella called Sharn’s decision an “enormous mistake” choosing Shane, who was well-liked, over unpopular Brian.

“You talk about honesty and loyalty, you started a strong alliance with Mat, Steve and Shane. And you thought that Mat’s name was going to come up [at tribal council] – did you tell him?” Brian asked.

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She stammered through an explanation, explaining she didn’t get an opportunity to tell Mat before tribal council.

“If Mat had told me he had an idol perhaps I would have told him I’ve heard some whispers, but I didn’t know that.”

The jury votes were read out and Sharn was crowned runner-up with four votes to Shane’s five.

Shane was crowned Sole Survivor.

Speaking to TV Week, Sharn explained why she chose to face Shane over Brian in the final two.

"The main reason for choosing Shane was that I basically have had a friendship with Shane since the start of the game, we've always been loyal to each other and we've always had each other's backs and we've always been truthful to one another," she said.

"Throughout the whole game I never lied to her at all. I respected her game, I respected the way she got to the end as well and I just felt that she was a worthy competitor. To be the best, you've got to beat the best, and I wanted to go up against Shane."

She said she was confident she could win against both Shane and Brian, but she didn't respect Brian's game-play.

She didn't take away the title of Sole Survivor or the $500,000 prize, but Sharn is pleased it was Shane who did.